ShareThisIt's hard to tell who is going to be more pumped up coming out of the tunnel at Beaver Stadium Saturday -- 82-year-old coach Joe Paterno or linebacker Sean Lee.
"Good question," a smiling Lee said. "I don't know the answer."
Paterno, who endured a painful season physically last year and had to have replacement surgery on his right hip, has not coached from the sideline in more than 11 months.
And Lee, a fifth-year senior co-captain, has not suited up for a game at Penn State in more than 20 months. He missed last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a non-contact drill in April 2008.
"I know he's going to be excited to be back out with us," Lee said. "I know last year he was up in the press box and he takes pride in being on the sideline with us. But, at the same time, I'm pretty excited to get back out there and play, and run on the field with my pads on and finally be back in Beaver Stadium playing."
Paterno, the winningest coach in Division I history with 383 victories, worked the final eight games from the coaches' booth last season. He is anxious to rejoin his team on the field for the first time since a 38-24 home victory against Illinois Sept. 27.
"I don't know whether I'm going to be able to run on the field," Paterno said. "I've been trying to do a little jogging out there on the practice field. But you know, I get a little nervous once in a while because they still want me to be careful about the hip.
"But I've had absolutely no problem. We go out there and, you know, I go from drill to drill, walk around, do a lot of different things. I think everything will be good. I am looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to getting back on the sideline."
Lee is one of four players from Western Pennsylvania who are expected to start for No. 9 Penn State Saturday when the Nittany Lions open their non-conference season against Akron.
He joins redshirt sophomore strong safety Nick Sukay (Greensburg Central), redshirt sophomore wide receiver Derek Moye (Rochester) and junior center Stefen Wisniewski (Central Catholic). Sukay, hobbled by injuries in the past, is expected to make his first career start for the Nittany Lions, as is Moye.
"Sukay has been hurt a lot, so it appears he's come out of nowhere, (but that) really hasn't been accurate," Paterno said. "He's been around. He's always had tremendous potential."
Paterno also has been impressed with the progress of Moye, who is 6 feet 5 and 198 pounds. He is taking over the spot that belonged to Deon Butler, a third-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks.
"Moye is a lot bigger receiver than Butler," Paterno said. "He'd be close speed-wise."
Penn State's defensive front line suffered another blow when backup tackle Brandon Ware sustained a broken right foot in practice Monday and is expected to miss at least a month.
Ware, a 6-3, 341-pound redshirt freshman who has battled weight problems, sustained the injury while changing direction in a non-contact drill. He was listed as the No. 2 left tackle behind Jared Odrick, a first-team All-Big Ten pick a year ago.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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